Conspiracy beliefs, regulatory self-efficacy and compliance with COVID-19 health-related behaviors: The mediating role of moral disengagement

Although recent studies on the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have highlighted the negative effects of moral disengagement on intentions to comply with COVID-19 containment measures, little is known about the mediating role of moral disengagement in the relationship between regulatory self-efficacy in complying with the containment measures, beliefs in conspiracy theories and compliance with COVID-19 health-related behaviors. Data were collected from 1164 young adults (women, N = 796; 68.4%; mean age 25.60 ± 4.40 years) who completed an online survey from 15th May to 22nd June 2021. Results of the multi-group path analyses indicated that higher beliefs in conspiracy theories were associated with lower compliance with COVID-19 health-related behaviors, whereas higher self-efficacy beliefs in complying with the containment measures were associated with higher compliance with COVID-19 health-related behaviors. Moral disengagement significantly mediated the associations between beliefs in conspiracy theories, regulatory self-efficacy, and compliance with COVID-19 health-related behaviors. Finally, the tested model was gender-invariant. Findings suggest that public health authorities and social care professionals should promote interventions aimed at improving regulatory self-efficacy, emphasizing the moral significance of respecting or ignoring the recommended COVID-19 measures (e.g., physical distance in public), and enhancing people's concern for the potential harms of their immoral actions

Facing the Pandemic in Italy: Personality Profiles and Their Associations With Adaptive and Maladaptive Outcomes

The negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals’ psychosocial functioning was widely attested during the last year. However, the extent to which individual differences are associated with adaptive and maladaptive outcomes during quarantine in Italy remains largely unexplored. Using a person-oriented approach, the present study explored the association of personality profiles, based on three broad individual dispositions (i.e., positivity, irritability, and hostile rumination) and two self-efficacy beliefs in the emotional area (i.e., expressing positive emotions and regulating anger emotion), with adaptive and maladaptive outcomes during the first Italian lockdown (March–June 2020). In doing so, we focused also on how different age groups (i.e., young adults and adults) differently faced the pandemic. The study was conducted through an online survey from May to June 2020 and included 1341 participants living in Italy, divided into two groups: 737 young adults aged 18–35 and 604 adults aged 36–60 years old. Latent Profile Analysis identified three personality profiles: resilient, vulnerable, and moderate. A subsequent path analysis model showed that the resilient profile was positively associated with prosocial behavior as an indicator of adaptive outcome, and negatively associated with three maladaptive outcomes: interpersonal aggression, depressive symptoms, and anxiety problems. Contrarily, the vulnerable profile resulted negatively associated with prosocial behavior and positively associated with the three maladaptive outcomes. Finally, regarding age group differences, young adults belonging to the vulnerable profile showed a greater association especially with interpersonal aggression, depression, and anxiety problems, as compared to adults belonging to the same profile. Overall, the results of the present study highlighted the importance to analyze individual functioning during an isolation period by using a person-oriented approach. Findings evidenced the existence of three different profiles (i.e., Resilient, Vulnerable, and Moderate) and subsequent path analysis revealed, especially for the vulnerable profile and young adults, a greater maladaptive consequence of the quarantine. The practical implications will be discussed

Exploring the protective function of positivity and regulatory emotional self-efficacy in time of pandemic covid-19

Despite several empirical studies on the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic that have highlighted its detrimental effect on individuals’ mental health, the identification of psychological factors that may moderate its impact on individuals’ behavior and well-being remains partly unexplored. The present study was conceived to examine the mediation role of regulatory emotional self-efficacy in the relationship between positivity and anxiety, depression, and perceived self-efficacy in complying with the containment measures to contrast the COVID-19 spread. Furthermore, the moderation role of age was tested. A sample of 1258 participants (64.2% women; Mage = 42.09, SD = 13.62) enrolled from the Italian general population answered an online survey aimed at investigating the role of individual differences in facing the COVID-19 pandemic. We opted for a snowball recruiting procedure to find participants. The online survey was disseminated through email invitation and using social media platforms (i.e., Facebook, Instagram). A multi-group path analysis model was performed using Mplus 8.4 to explore the hypothesized relations among variables. The following criteria were employed to evaluate the goodness of fit: χ2 likelihood ratio statistic, CFI and TLI > 0.95, RMSEA < 0.06 and SRMR < 0.08. The findings corroborated the protective role of both positivity and regulatory emotional self-efficacy in reducing individuals’ anxiety and depressive symptoms, as well as in fostering individuals’ capabilities in complying with the containment measures imposed by the government to reduce the risk of illness and to contain the spread of the virus COVID-19. Specifically, regulatory emotional self-efficacy beliefs partially mediated the relations between positivity and anxiety and depressive symptoms and fully mediated the effect of positivity on perceived self-efficacy beliefs in complying with the containment measures. These paths were equal across ages. The results of the present study appear relevant to implementing psychological interventions aimed to reduce the deleterious effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health through the promotion of individuals’ optimistic orientation and emotion regulation

Smartphone and social network addiction in early adolescents: The role of self-regulatory self-efficacy in a pilot school-based intervention

Background: Youths' online problematic behaviors, such as smartphone or social network sites (SNS) addiction, gained increasing attention nowadays, due to their impact on concurrent and later adjustment, such as emotional and/or behavioral problems, academic impairments, or relational issues. Aims: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a pilot school-based intervention to contrast online addictive behaviors while fostering adolescents' self-regulative abilities. Materials & Methods: The intervention started in January 2022 in an Italian junior high school located in Rome, and consisted of four meetings with students. A total sample of 462 15-year-old adolescents (Mage = 15.2; SD = 0.50; 41% females; Ncontrol = 214; Nintervention = 248) was considered. Within the latent difference score framework, we examined short-term changes from the pre-to-the-postintervention levels of SNS and smartphone addiction, and self-regulatory self-efficacy (SRSE) beliefs as a possible booster of the intervention's effectiveness. Results: Results showed a significant decrease in both online addictions (SNS and smartphone addiction), controlling for age, gender, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status, because of the short-term efficacy of the project. The buffering effect of SRSE beliefs was further supported. Conclusion: These findings emphasized the usefulness of promoting youths' self-regulative beliefs to contrast problematic tendencies, according to a Positive Youth Development perspective which focused on resources rather than only on the prevention of negative outcomes for youths' adjustment

L’emergenza COVID-19 nei giovani adulti e adulti in Italia: il ruolo delle risorse e vulnerabilità individuali secondo un approccio orientato alla persona

Introduzione Il presente studio si propone di esaminare il ruolo delle differenze individuali in una varietà di indicatori connessi all’adattamento psicosociale nei giovani adulti e adulti nel corso della quarantena in Italia a causa del COVID-19. In particolare, adottando un approccio orientato alla persona (AOP), all’interno di una prospettiva personologica che considera il funzionamento individuale come configurazione di tratti e convinzioni, ci siamo proposti un duplice obiettivo: (1) identificare profili individuali rispetto alle caratteristiche di personalità (tratti e convinzioni di autoefficacia), e (2) esplorare l’associazione tra profili emersi ed esiti (dis)adattivi nel corso della quarantena. Metodo Attraverso una survey online, lo studio ha coinvolto 1229 partecipanti, suddivisi in due gruppi: 703 giovani adulti di età 18-35 anni (M=27,05, DS=4,07) e 526 adulti di età 36-59 anni (M=48,57; DS=6,93). Sono state raccolte misure di: disposizioni individuali (Positività,P; Irritabilità,IR; Ruminazione Ostile, RO), di autoefficacia nell’espressione delle emozioni positive (AEP) e gestione della rabbia (AER) nel corso della quarantena, e indicatori di esiti esperiti durante la quarantena: percezione del supporto amicale (SUP), prosocialità (PRO), depressione (D), ansia (AN), e aggressività verbale (AV). Per identificare i profili è stata utilizzata l’analisi dei profili latenti (LPA), testando l’invarianza di misura tra giovani adulti e adulti. Per esplorare le associazioni tra i profili emersi ed esiti durante la quarantena sono state implementate una serie di regressioni gerarchiche a due step, inserendo le seguenti variabili indipendenti: (1) genere e fascia d’età e (2) profilo di appartenenza. Risultati Dalla LPA sono emersi 3 profili: uno ‘Resiliente’, ossia con maggiori risorse individuali (R; 23%; elevati livelli di P, AEP, AER e bassi livelli di IR, RO), uno ‘Vulnerabile’ (V; 17%; bassi livelli di P, AEP, AER e alti livelli di IR, RO), e uno medio (60%; livelli medi in tutte le variabili). I profili sono risultati invarianti a livello di similarità distributiva (giovani adulti vs adulti), mostrando una maggiore disregolazione nel profilo vulnerabile dei giovani adulti rispetto agli adulti (livelli significativamente minori di P, AEP, AER, e maggiori di RO). I risultati delle regressioni hanno mostrato che l’appartenenza al profilo R si associa a SUP (β=.069, p<.05) a carico delle donne giovani adulte, e a PRO (β=.141, p<.001) nelle donne adulte. Diversamente, il profilo V risulta associato a maggiori livelli di D (β=.310, p<.001) e AN (β=.502, p<.001) a carico delle donne giovani adulte, e ad AV (β=.527, p<.001) nei giovani adulti uomini. Conclusioni I risultati di questo studio mettono in luce l’importanza delle differenze individuali analizzate secondo un AOP rispetto a differenti esiti (dis)adattivi nel corso quarantena. Il profilo V versus R, soprattutto nella fascia di giovani adulti, include coloro i quali hanno presentato maggiori esiti disadattivi durante la quarantena. Le implicazioni pratiche verranno discusse

Values and Pro-environmental behavior: the mediating role of Self-regulatory efficacy beliefs

An extensive literature on pro-environmental behavior (PEB) highlighted the inconsistency between individual goals and actual behavior (Nielsen & Hofmann, 2021). People embracing self-transcendence values (i.e., assigning priority to social welfare and nature) are more likely to perform PEBs (Steg et al., 2014). Since PEBs can be demanding in terms of personal resources (Nielsen, 2017), to align PEBs with long-term goals or values (e.g., Nielsen & Hofmann, 2021), namely to sustain one’s motivation in the face of difficulties, self-regulation processes may be pivotal (e.g., Wyss et al., 2021). Among others, self-efficacy may represent a central mechanism in supporting motivation (Caprara & Steca, 2007; Bandura, 1997) and PEB (Tabernero & Hernández, 2011). Consistent with these premises, the present study aims to examine to what extent self-transcendence values (i.e., universalism) exert their influence over PEBs (i.e., green consumerism, recycling, energy saving) through pro-environmental self-regulatory efficacy beliefs (beliefs about one’s ability to overcome internal or external contingent barriers to PEBs). Data used for the present study were part of an ongoing intensive longitudinal study. The study sample consisted of 180 Italian surveyed participants (age range=18-35; mean age=25.3, SD=3.4). Preliminary results on a partial sub-sample (n=56) showed that the relationship between self-transcendence values and PEBs, after controlling for gender and perceived usefulness of PEBs, was partially mediated by self-regulatory efficacy (β=.185; p= .032). This study shed new light on the motivational mechanisms underlying PEBs, highlighting the potential positive role of self-regulatory efficacy beliefs in enacting PEBs in young individuals. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed

Longitudinal and reciprocal relations between adolescents' prosocial behavior, peer acceptance, self-efficacy beliefs and academic achievement

A limited number of studies has found that Prosocial Behavior (PB; i.e. voluntary actions aimed to benefit others, like helping, consoling, donating; Eisenberg, et al., 2006) was associated with academic achievement across adolescence (e.g., Gerbino et al., 2018; Wentzel, 1993). It was hypothesized that prosocial adolescents may be more motivated and engaged with school, because they experience a supportive and accepting environment (e.g., Jennings & Greenberg 2009). Similarly, Self-efficacy in Self-Regulated learning (SE-SRL; perceived capacities in self-monitoring, in setting goals and using self-motivational strategies for learning) is crucial for students' motivation and persistence (Bandura, 1997). Our study is aimed to identify the unique role of PB and Peer Acceptance (PA) in supporting SE-SRL and School Grades (SG) across middle school. We hypothesized that positive benefits of PB in supporting PA and SG may be accumulated over time through the repetitive interactions with peers. We also expect that PA contribute to SE-SRL and SG. We analyzed reciprocal relations between PB, PA and SE-SRL and Grades across middle school years. Participants were 450 adolescents (48.5% boys; mean age = 12) attending at T1 6th grade of junior high school. Participants were drawn from the Genzano Longitudinal Study. PB was assessed by peer nominations (Caprara & Pastorelli, 1993). SE-SRL was evaluated through 11 self-reported items (Caprara et al., 2008), peer acceptance was measured using peer nomination. School grades were reported by teachers. We tested a full cross lagged model, using structural equation modelling. Main results showed that 6th and 7th grade Peer Acceptance sustained later Self-Efficacy beliefs and Academic Grades. Differently, PB contributed to social acceptance, academic self-efficacy and school grades, only from 7th to 8th grades. Our study underlined that being prosocial, as well as, being accepted by peers, have a unique role in supporting adolescents’ successful school experience

Credenze Epistemologiche e Disimpegno Morale Durante il COVID-19

Introduzione Durante la pandemia da COVID-19, si è assistito alla diffusione di informazioni scientifiche a volte contraddittorie o errate. A fronte di tali incertezze, esaminare le credenze epistemologiche individuali, ovvero il modo in cui si costruisce la propria conoscenza in merito all’attuale pandemia, in adulti di diverse età, può essere importante. Alcuni studi riportano che la cognizione epistemica, influenzata dall’educazione e dal contesto di vita, si modifica nel passaggio dall’adolescenza all’età adulta da una conoscenza unitaria ad una più complessa e plurale. In questa situazione di incertezza, è utile considerare anche i meccanismi cognitivi di disimpegno morale che attraverso il ricorso a rappresentazioni distorte della propria condotta o delle sue conseguenze possono rendere accettabili violazioni delle norme di prevenzione raccomandate. Su queste premesse, questo studio mira a esaminare in differenti momenti dell’età adulta: a) le differenze di genere e di età in due tipologie di credenze epistemologiche relative alla pandemia da COVID-19: pluralità della conoscenza (Relativismo dinamico) e superficialità nell’acquisizione delle informazioni (Semplicismo); b) la relazione tra credenze epistemologiche e meccanismi di disimpegno morale (costruzione della condotta riprovevole, spostamento della responsabilità e distorsione delle conseguenze) relativi all’emergenza sanitaria. Metodo Allo studio hanno partecipato 1513 soggetti: 67% femmine e 33% maschi; il 21,5% di età compresa tra i 18 e i 25 anni (adultità emergente), il 40,8% tra i 26 e i 39 anni (prima età adulta) e il 37,7% tra i 40 e i 60 anni. Le credenze epistemologiche riguardanti il fenomeno COVID-19 sono state misurate attraverso l’adattamento di item tratti dal questionario Come Conosco, il disimpegno morale rispetto all’adozione di misure di prevenzione e gestione dell'emergenza sanitaria attraverso l’adattamento di item tratti dalla scala di Disimpegno Morale. Risultati L’ANCOVA ha evidenziato che, controllando per il livello di educazione, gli adulti di età superiore ai 40 anni mostravano un maggiore semplicismo (F= 4.51; p=.011) e un minore relativismo dinamico (F= 8.33; p=.001), rispetto agli adulti più giovani, mentre non sono emerse differenze di genere. Le regressioni gerarchiche multiple hanno evidenziato che al di là del genere e del titolo di studio, il semplicismo (ma non il relativismo dinamico) prediceva significativamente un maggiore uso dei meccanismi di disimpegno morale in tutte le fasce di età ( compreso tra .11 e .20). Conclusioni Lo studio evidenzia come durante la media età adulta l’acquisizione delle informazioni e la conoscenza relativa al COVID-19 risulta essere più superficiale e meno pluralista, contrariamente alle aspettative. Tuttavia, a tutte le età, una maggiore superficialità nell’acquisizione delle informazioni sembra favorire il ricorso a meccanismi di disimpegno morale, che possono facilitare la mancata adozione di misure preventive